AS ENGLAND continue their auditions for a shot at fame in New Zealand over the coming month a name from the past will be given an unexpected opportunity across the Tasman Sea.

Rikki Clarke will travel to Australia with the Lions squad at the age of 31, seven years after he last played for England.

The Warwickshire all-rounder has always been a talented cricketer but a wayward temperament and some poor performances led to England washing their hands of him. Now it seems, with his old county coach Ashley Giles running the one-day show, Clarke may make a remarkable return.

“We wouldn’t pick him unless the door was open,” said Giles.

“The important thing is the balance of the team. So if we need someone to fill the No7 spot, whether it be in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup in 2015, he is the type of cricketer who could. He has an opportunity in Australia and I will be going over to watch the last couple of matches.”

He added: “Over the past few years Rikki has developed nicely.”

Rikki Clarke will travel to Australia with the Lions squad at the age of 31, seven years after he last played for England

England have targeted the Champions Trophy, being staged at home in June, as their major objective this season, outside the Ashes. It is a genuine chance to finally win a global 50-over title.

The most intriguing places still to be filled are in the heart of the team, at No6 and No7.

If England stick to the formula that worked so well at home last year, they will play a top six including wicketkeeper, and five bowlers. That format, though, dictates that at least two of the bowlers know how to hold a bat.

Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler will go head-to-head for the gloves in New Zealand and, with Tim Bresnan suffering from an elbow injury and dip in form, Chris Woakes and James Harris, of Middlesex, will be vying for the No7 position – with Clarke biding his time in the wings.